William fitz Nigel (d. 1134)

William fitz Nigel, Baron of Halton, was a prominent 12th-century noble. He was a son of Nigel, the first Baron of Halton. William died in 1134.

He succeeded to the title Baron of Halton and position of Constable of Chester upon his father's death. He held lands in Halton, throughout Cheshire and also in Normandy.[1] Through his mother, as heiress, he obtained the title Baron of Widnes and the Lancashire manors of Widnes, Appleton, Cronton and Rainhill.[2] In 1115 he established a priory of the Augustinian Order of Canons Regular in Runcorn.[3] He died in 1134 at Halton Castle and was buried at Chester.[4]

Marriage and issue

His wife is unknown. His children were:

• Agnes, she married Eustace fitz John. Had issue.
• Leucha, she married Robert De Mohaut. Had issue.
• Matilda, she married Albert de Grelle. Had issue.
• William, who succeeded his father as Baron of Halton but died 1149 with no issue. When he died, Halton passed to the family of his sister Agnes.

Notes

1. Whimperley 1986, p. 9.
2. Starkey 1990, p. 8.
3. Nickson 1887, p. 136.
4. Whimperley 1981, p. 1.

References

• Nickson, Charles (1887), History of Runcorn, London and Warrington: Mackie & Co.
• Starkey, H. F. (1990), Old Runcorn, Halton: Halton Borough Council
• Whimperley, Arthur (1981), Halton Castle: An Introduction & Visitors' Handbook, Widnes: Arthur Whimperley
• Whimperley, Arthur (1986), The Barons of Halton, Widnes: MailBook Publishing